My First Batch Ever, Idaho Star Garnets

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spokanetim
has rocks in the head

Member since October 2009
Posts: 656

My First Batch Ever, Idaho Star Garnets Oct 27, 2009 0:36:13 GMT -5

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Post by spokanetim on Oct 27, 2009 0:36:13 GMT -5

Hi All, I've always had a interest in rocks picking up stones here and there but never doing much about it. About a month and a half ago I got my hands on a bunch of Idaho Star Garnets which put me over the edge. I had to see if I could make something out of these so I bought a Lortone 45C rock tumbler. Four weeks later and going threw the usual grit process I put them in for polishing. Well they got all messed up because I thought the plastic pellets was a suggestion and didn't use any. 48 hours later when I check the polish they were looking like crap. I'm impatient so I then bought a UV-10 to speed things up. Put them in the vib with 120 grit to clean up the mess for two days, then pre-polish for two days then AO polish for 5 days with the results shown in the pics. Large ceramic was added in all stages to keep up the volume and burnising between stages and 4 hours after polish.

The smaller garnets (dime size or smaller) turned out very nice, glass finish on all and some with nice stars. The larger stones are just blah, no high shine. Any suggestions on how to make the larger stones shine would really be appreciated. Am I using the wrong polish or the wrong grits? Is moving from 120 to pre polish to fast?
Thanks for any help.
i996.photobucket.com/albums/af90/SpokaneTim/Rocks016.jpg
i996.photobucket.com/albums/af90/SpokaneTim/Rocks051.jpg
i996.photobucket.com/albums/af90/SpokaneTim/Rocks058.jpg
i996.photobucket.com/albums/af90/SpokaneTim/Rocks104.jpg
i996.photobucket.com/albums/af90/SpokaneTim/Rocks112.jpg

How do you post picures without linking to Photobucket?

www.etsy.com/shop/SouthHillStones

Toad misunderstood rock expert Only rocks understand me. Member since September 2004 Posts: 12,798	My First Batch Ever, Idaho Star Garnets Oct 27, 2009 6:21:47 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Toad on Oct 27, 2009 6:21:47 GMT -5 Looks like some of those did finish off nice for you. Here are instructions for posting pics: forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/index.cgi?board=trtphoto&action=display&thread=22977 Welcome to the boards.
	Last Edit: Oct 27, 2009 15:32:31 GMT -5 by Toad Convinced myself, I seek not to convince.

Bikerrandy can identify rocks - even green ones Say what?? Member since September 2005 Posts: 15,688	My First Batch Ever, Idaho Star Garnets Oct 27, 2009 17:29:45 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Bikerrandy on Oct 27, 2009 17:29:45 GMT -5 Hmmmmm, I would have went from 120 to 600, then pre-polish. Those do however look very nice
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frane
misunderstood rock expert

Member since July 2008
Posts: 11,015

My First Batch Ever, Idaho Star Garnets Oct 27, 2009 20:13:19 GMT -5

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Post by frane on Oct 27, 2009 20:13:19 GMT -5

Well, it is good that you are now into tumbling! Those are pretty and the more you experiment with different rocks, the better you get! Quartz items like that garnet have a tendency of fracturing easy and undercutting so you did very well the first attempt!
Looking forward to seeing your next tumbles!
Fran

spokanetim has rocks in the head Member since October 2009 Posts: 656	My First Batch Ever, Idaho Star Garnets Oct 28, 2009 23:40:27 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by spokanetim on Oct 28, 2009 23:40:27 GMT -5 Thanks for the suggestions, I think I should try the 600 than move on to pre-polish. My question is where do you buy it? My local shop doesn't sell it and should I use a super fine polish at the end?
	www.etsy.com/shop/SouthHillStones

Saskrock fully equipped rock polisher Member since October 2007 Posts: 1,852	My First Batch Ever, Idaho Star Garnets Oct 29, 2009 0:28:41 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Saskrock on Oct 29, 2009 0:28:41 GMT -5 posted them for you. Don't worry its easy once you figure it out.
	Scott

Saskrock fully equipped rock polisher Member since October 2007 Posts: 1,852	My First Batch Ever, Idaho Star Garnets Oct 29, 2009 0:31:59 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Saskrock on Oct 29, 2009 0:31:59 GMT -5 Those look great!! I would try www.kingsleynorth.com/ or therockshed.com/ for grit/polish.
	Scott

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My First Batch Ever, Idaho Star Garnets

Post by spokanetim on Oct 27, 2009 0:36:13 GMT -5

Post by Toad on Oct 27, 2009 6:21:47 GMT -5

Post by Bikerrandy on Oct 27, 2009 17:29:45 GMT -5

Post by frane on Oct 27, 2009 20:13:19 GMT -5

Post by spokanetim on Oct 28, 2009 23:40:27 GMT -5

Post by Saskrock on Oct 29, 2009 0:28:41 GMT -5

Post by Saskrock on Oct 29, 2009 0:31:59 GMT -5

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